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NOLS Risk Management Training, October 2-3, 2007, Whistler, BC
For the 2007 Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS)
Hosted by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA)

NOLS Professional Training will provide a two-day Risk Management Training as a pre-Summit workshop (October 2-3) to the annual Adventure Travel World Summit (October 4-7). This training covers critical information and current trends in risk management. The training is targeted at program administrators who must develop risk management strategies within their organizations. Fundamentally, an organization’s ability to analyze, manage and inform others of the inherent risks associated with adventure travel supports its sustainability and growth. The wilderness and adventure education industry has well developed risk management strategies that transfer well to the adventure travel industry. This training creates the opportunity for sharing that information between two industries.    

NOLS Risk Management Training Goals
Every training strives to meet the unique demands of its audience. Working within this framework, each participant will gain the skills and tools to build or enhance an existing risk management plan. Specifically participants will: ·      

• Learn a structured approach to organizing a risk management plan.
• Think analytically about curriculum, administrative processes, staff hiring and training, field support services and crisis planning.
• Use the Risk Management framework to evaluate an incident and a program for weaknesses in their risk management plan.
• Participate in exercises to understand risk issues associated with staffing, contracting, and emergency and crisis planning.
• Understand how to utilize the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS Medical Protocol Package and the NOLS Crisis template.
• Build a targeted risk management action plan for their organization.

NOLS Risk Management Training Course Outline

October 2, 8am-5pm

Introduction, Goals and Objectives
Definition and History of Risk Management at NOLS
Risk Management Oversight
Core Curriculum
Administrative Process

• Marketing
• Enrollment Packet
• Assumption of Risks/Release
• Accepted Participant Behaviors & Expulsion Policies
• Medical Screening
• Insurance
• Contractors
• Program Evaluations and Incident Reviews

Staff Recruitment, Retention and Development

• Employee Policies and Procedures
• Qualifications, Hiring Screening
• Training/Accepted Field Practices/Evaluation

October 3, 8am-5pm

Field Support Services

• Equipment/Rations
• Transportation
• Medical Treatment
• Emergency Response Plans
• Crisis and Media Plans

Incident/Program Review Exercise
Action Planning for your Organization
Evaluations and Conclusion        

Course Description for Web and Brochure
NOLS Risk Management Training
Whether your program is small or large, domestic or international, you have a responsibility to your staff and participants to invest in risk management planning.  Building a comprehensive risk management plan can feel daunting.  This seminar will provide you with a structured approach and the tools to build a risk management plan appropriate for your organization.  We’ll share our experiences managing risk in wilderness environments around the world.  At NOLS we’ve had 40 years to learn the risk management lessons you may just be starting to face.  Let us share our experiences with you.    

Training Costs
NOLS will provide its two day Risk Management Training for $465 USD/ATTA Member or $565 USD/ non-ATTA member. Course fees include two days of education, the Risk Management Training workbook which includes additional case studies, scenarios and self-assessment tools, the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS Wilderness Medical Protocol Package, the NOLS Crisis Template and the 2006 Wilderness Risk Management Conference Proceedings.     

NOLS Statement of Capabilities
When it comes to reaching your highest potential, you want nothing but the best. For 42 years, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) has offered 2-week to 135-day wilderness expeditions that give people real experiences leading in the outdoors. More that 85,000 students have come to NOLS, the recognized leader in the field, to learn leadership and teamwork, risk management, technical skills, and environmental studies. NOLS is a non-profit organization. Our mission is to be the leading source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment. Since our inception, the NOLS philosophy has been to develop judgment, leadership and wilderness skills. At NOLS, we believe effective risk management policies and processes fundamentally enable us to achieve this mission. Through NOLS Professional Training, the school has also become the nation's premier provider of customized training and risk management consulting for a wide range of audiences, including colleges and universities, outdoor education organizations, governmental agencies, and private businesses. We are able to offer these services because our experience managing risk in wilderness settings around the globe is unparalleled.    

NOLS Philosophy on Risk Management
As a non-profit organization actively involved in domestic and international adventure education one of the fundamental challenges we face is the continual effort to balance risk to participant and risk to organization. At NOLS we prioritize managing risk to our participants and believe this helps us manage risk to our organization. We believe that enhancing risk management practices is a continual and long-term process. Risk management is not a checklist; it is a culture and habit. We believe that focused adherence to mission is a cornerstone of effective risk management practices. We seek opportunities to share our experience and help other organizations to develop concrete action plans to make forward progress in their risk management strategy. We believe sharing our 42 years of experience developing preventative strategies and managing crises strengthens the collective industry.

Response and Inquiries
Please direct a response and questions to:
Shana Tarter, NOLS Professional Training
shana_tarter@nols.edu • 307-335-2353